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France conducts more reconnaissance flights over Syria

Xinhua, September 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

France carried out more surveillance flights over Syria on Wednesday for the second consecutive day to prepare possible strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets, local media reported.

French-made Atlantic 2 maritime patrol aircraft conducted new reconnaissance flight over Syria "to obtain information on the terrorist group Daech and strengthen self-assessment capacity of the situation in France," the daily Le Figaro said on its website, citing the army's general staff.

A day before, two Rafale fighter jets equipped with photo and video cameras carried out first surveillance flights which aimed to "determine what action can be taken when the time comes," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.

On Monday, French President Francois Hollande announced reconnaissance flights would begin soon to consider air strikes against Islamist fighters in Syria.

But , he ruled out any ground operation, arguing such move would be "ineffective and unrealistic".

In 2013, the French president pushed for a strong international response and the use of force in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria before American and British allies backed off the operation.

France has been providing weapons to opposition Syrian Kurdish forces but has repeatedly ruled out taking part in strikes on IS inside Syrian borders without a United Nations mandate. Endit